“We have a responsibility that is proportional to our power. Being sensitive to the human considerations is crucial in making ethical decisions. It’s not what you can do, it’s about what you should do.” - Damon Horowitz

Ethics are of paramount importance to the architecture and interior design fields. Every day, architects and designers are charged with taking countless factors into consideration - the environmental impacts of their work, sourcing sustainable materials, building spaces that are safe and functional, the well-being of a space’s inhabitants and professional development – to name a few.

In fact, over the last several years, sustainability has increasingly resonated with people, and specifically, the A&D community. Why? The answer begins with a question of right and wrong, which our moral compass dictates. Sustainable design is important because we care about the environment. We know that making environmentally responsible decisions today will benefit our neighbors, our communities, our children, our planet and our own well-being.

As architects and designers, influence lies in making decisions and creating spaces that are good for clients, the environment, and the people who use the spaces you construct. However, not every decision is always clear-cut. Some cases are more black and white, while others represent ethical gray areas.

With this in mind, Milliken introduced a discussion-driven continuing education course (CEU), “An Ethical Approach to Design and Architecture,” to navigate the waters of ethically gray situations that architects and designers often encounter.

During the CEU course, designers consider a variety of ethical issues in our industry, the factors we take into consideration and ways to resolve potential dilemmas. The discussion explores the importance of sustainable design and architecture, and the moral and ethical implications of our actions. We ask if we are considering the greater good of communities at large and creating a better quality of life as we build, rehabilitate and change cities, towns and spaces with our actions. What more could be done, and what more should be done.

And while there are ethical gray areas that can pose problems in design and architecture, there are also opportunities to go above and beyond in aiding the greater good. During the CEU, we look at two case studies where public interest and impact design are building better and stronger communities around the world and at all scales.

Milliken has long been dedicated to leading industries in ethical practices. It’s integral to how we conduct business every day. In fact, our dedication to ethical business practices has resulted in a 10-year distinction as one of Ethisphere® Institute’s World’s Most Ethical Companies®. Creating a thought-provoking CEU around ethics is one avenue through which Milliken extends our ethical foundation to the industries in which we serve.

Click here to learn more about how to take part in our ethics-focused CEU, as well as other courses offered by Milliken that are available for AIA, IDCEC (IIDA, IDC and ASID) as well as GBCI credit.